Hematology: Crackdown on Plasma

Plasma is a has-beenor should be.
Yet each year an estimated 100,000 Americans receive transfusions of
plasma, which is the almost colorless liquid portion of whole blood
that has been collected from many donors and pooled. Used after burns,
wounds or hemorrhage, it is credited with having saved the lives of
countless accident victims and battle casualties. All too often,
however, pooled plasma carries hepatitis virus, and its assorted
proteins may cause severe allergic-type reactions. Last week the
Division of Biologies Standards, the Federal Government's watchdog over
all medicinal preparations containing...